Sheet-feeding machine.



,EL o. LA BATT. SHEET FEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10,

1901. RENEWED FEB. 10, 1908.

' Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Humm (Y 1 minimun H. G. LA BATT. SHEET FBEDING MACHINE. APPLIoATIoN FILED SEPT. 1o, 1901. M NBWBD PEB. 1o, 190s.

Patented sept. 29, 1908. I 8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. c. LA BATT.

9m W ma m l W m, m m MB Wh, 1 t Y UJI n@ v w w HMNWM MFI.. Il M o pwmnr K SHEET FEEDING MACHINE. AIPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1901. BBNEWED FBB.10, 1908.

Winwml l w s. @mi

III

. .N M NI 6,.

H. C. LA BATT.

v SHEET FEBDING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1901. RENBWED FEB. 10, 1908. 899,995, v Patented Sept. 29, 1908.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

.m /j L HUI). f' Mie e# .72 in In) M LM d 'mnllllllll H. G. LA BATT.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE. yAPPLIOATION FILED sBPT.`10, 1901. RBNBWBD Humo, 1908.

a SHEETS-SHEET 5.

H. e. LA BATT. SHEET FEEDING MAGHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1901. RENBWED FEB. 10, 1908.

Patented Sept. 29, 1908. s SHEETS-SEEN 6.

I s e 7 lha/R204 I ...illu n EEE.,

H. C. LA BATT. SHEET FEEDING MAGHINE. A'PPLIOATIONl FILED SEPT. 10, 1901. BENEWED FEB. 10, 1908. i

899,995. Patented sept. 29, 1908.

8 SHEETS-SHEET '1.`

E. c. LA EATT. SHEET PEEDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1901. BENEWED FEB. 10, 1908. 899,995. Patented 891313.29, 1908.

' i ssHEET-s SHEET a.

.y fw. JM

lUNITED STATIisPATnn FFE.

HOMIER C. -LA BATT, oF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASsIoNon To WILLIAM I. annie/3k, or emoAco,

ILLINOIS.

SHEE'TLFEEDING MACHINE.

tively engaging the top sheet at or' near its,

front edge, whereby to arch or buckle the top sheet and deliver the same to any suitable feeding-off mechanism.

Another object of my invention to provide new and improved means for injecting.;

an air-blast under the top sheet, to overcome any tendency of the same to stick or adhere to the stack of sheets.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved feeding oil" mechanism,

whereby the top ,sheet is moved more or less after the Operation of the bucklers has effected its preliminary separation from the stack.

Another object of my invention is to provide improved means to autonlatzically adjust the paper-table to the level required for effecting the prelin'linary separation of the top sheet by the bucklers.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent" from the subjoined description and from a. consideration of the operations and 'functions of the mechanism embodying my invention. A

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will tirst describe the samewith reference to the accompanying drawmgs, and atterwards pomt out the novelty thereot` more jmrtieularly in the annexed clailns.

In the actannpanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a sheet feeding-machine embotlymg' my invention. Fig'. 2 is a side elevation thereof on the side atwhieh power is applied, certain parts being shown broken away. Fig. 3 is a. rear elevation ofthe same. Fig'. 4 lis a. side elevation, the view being taken on the side oppositeto that shown in Fig. 2, and some of the parte beingfshown in section for clearness of illustration. Fig.l

Patented sept. 29, 1908. Renewed February 10, 1908. Serial No. 415,227.

5 is ay sectional elevation through the machine, this view however being on an enlarged scale. Fig'. is a. part plan and part sectional view o part of the buckler-shaft and one. ot its guide-ways. Fig'. 7 is a. detail side view ot 011e oil the bucklers detached from the buckler-shaft. Fig'. S is a sectional view on the line 8775-8 of ltig'. 7. Fig. 9 is a sectional view ot' the buckler-foot. Fig. 10 is a detail elevation of the mechanism for reciprocating and controlling the movement of the b|u'klei'sha.t`t. Fig'. 'l1 is a sectional ele.- vation showing the feeding-'eti mechanism and some ot its associated parts. Fig'. 12 is a top plan view ofthe it'ace-plates ot the yoke' and the feeding-oil rollers, parts being' broken away 'for purposes of illustration. Fig'. 13 is a detail view, partly in section, showing' themeans for mounting' the t'ecd ing-oil' rollers ou the. yoke of the machine. 'Fig'. '14 is a. detail elevation oiione side ot the machine'illustrating the means employed to maintain the papentabley at the desired level. Fig'. l5 is a detail top View ot' the lwaring-hox`ot Fig'. .'l'l. Fig. lt is a detail view. showing in section part ot thc trame and in plan one ot the guide-rolhn's and one ot the brackets ot the ptlpentable. Fig. 17 is a I-letached side elevation of the means .tor transmitting motion from the main shai't' to the table-raising mechanism. Fig. 18 is aside view ot part ot' the machine showing the means for ."aisiug und .lowering the feeding-ott' shaft and tor controlling the air-supply valve. Fig'. lf.) is a top plan view ot' certain parts shown in Fig'. 18. Fig'. 2() is a front view of part' of the airblast mechanism. Fig'. Z1 'is a lougitudimtl sectional view .of the 'papt\r-labl showing' a snpplemental or suh--bm'klcr to :facilitate the arch ing' o1' buckling oi" the paper. Fig'. 2L is a top plan view of part ot the table and sul buelilel' of Fig. 2l. Fig'. 22% is a detail view,

u. E partly In section, of the means to operate the.

sub-buckler of Fig. 21. Fig. 24 is a view in .side elevation of a moditicd i'orm of sub buckler. the guides on the jnper-table. detail sectional view ofthe yoke f.-l1o\\'ing one of the air-blast. ports and valves. Fig. 27 is a front. viewof one of the adjustable airvalves, and Fig. E28 is a, longitudinal sectional view ofthe paper-table and some of its associated parts, showimr the relative positions of the bucklers an ,retaining-bar Fig'. is an elevation of one of Fig. 2G is a held by a. suitable set-slireiv b2. The buorefer of the yoke with `ioni-nalbores in whichv ZJ, such as shown in Fig. T, providedwith un :tween the upper ear and s shoulder neer the by :lull and dotted lines at diliierent stages of operation. I A

lThe steek or pile of sheets l to be fed to 'the printing-press, folder, or other machine, is mounted upon un automaticallyodjustable table T, which is positioned to keep the top sheet normally slightly below the upper surface or' u cross-bnr jij. This bur coniprises e part of a heavy iront yoke Y, which is mounted on the freine .si oi' the inuchine and is provided with e passage y/" extending` nearly the length thereof and through which the sheets are fed. The opening` is provided withl s face-plete if, upon its lower sideorer which the are izedto the p tiugnpress rolls g3, or other suitable machine.

The supporting frame A is provided in e suitable through-shaft S has its bearings. The shaft carries e suitable spur-wheel s, to which power is transmitted 'from any suit able source of supply, For prueticul purposes l prefer to take the power troni the press or folder with'which the feeder is assoelated, und for this purpose l may en'iploy suitable intermediate connections, such for exam le as are shown et S in Fig. Q in which the shaft s transmits power to the ineireshslt 'from the folder or press by Ineens of intermediate bevel-gears shown therein. The drive-wheel s is mounted loosely on the shaft and is eduptedto transmit power thereto by ineens of :i suitable clutch s2, vhicli is fiiluoted to be operated by any suitable ineohon in Ythrough u. clutchlever 83 to stop and stort the machine.

ln front of the sha lit S the ironie is provided 'with suitable standards, in 'whiohsnitvable slots are prorided forming guidcfvruys KB, which receive und support the bucklerluiechsnisni for eifecting the preliminary separation of 'the top sheet from the stuck. rlhis letter inechunisrn embraces n. rod or shaft B, eiitending across the ninchine intermediate tie'yoke und inuin-slui-ft, and adapted to be reeiproceted in suid guides by mechsnisin hereineiiter described. rlhe rod. E is preferably' square in erosssection, und is provided et intervals with :ii-chers or bueklers B2 These bucklers ure preferably in the i'orin of lingers, und consist olf blocks open groove or Channel Z2 in its top edge near its rear end shaped with un overlutn'ging lug to engage the rod B, to which it is llers are adjustable along the rod and muy be sehnt any desired points, whereby they n'uiy4 be placed to bee r upon the iin-inked portions of the sheets. E ch oil the buokl ers hes front eers b3, suitably i'ierfornted to -reeeive e Ascrew-bolt..154*7 'which is held in adjustable position in the ears by s set-nut A spring 6G surrounds the screw-bolt and bears beprojeoted within lower end of the bolt, to hold the bolt to its work with springpressure, to tgive the pud ut the lower end of the suine suliieient Jfrictionul hold upon the she its to inove the top one thereof. Ruoli bolt is provided :it its lower end with n, foot if, which carries :i suitable `pad Zr to engage the top sheet. '.lhe foot has guide-stein D, which pusscs through. the lower eur (rl, und holds the ioot in position with relation to the finger. A suitable rorkcr-urin B3 is rigidly secured upon the shaft or rod ll, near euch end, und is provided with :i vlateral projection eorrying un uniidrietion roller om, which enters oneJ of the guides B und is adopted to be un :ingulsrr or cuni extension B ut its Afront end to rock the shn'l't ll', .when 'the lutter ut its outer end oif its movement or stroke, for the purpose olfA ruising the pods of the bucklers from ongege- ,ieut with the sheets. This operation is tinied in the cycle oi" the ninehine to occur when the buckler has arched the top shoot. and returned it to the 'front norniul lino ol the stuck.

The shuft or rod B carries enti-friction rollers Il :it its 'ends in the guidc-wziys, :ind is reciprocaied in its guides by ineens oi urnis ll, secured to the ends thereof :and projecting reurwurdly to engage the upper ends or' links ll, which :ire pivoted :it their lower ends lo the rear i'lprighls of (he iirnlne. The links und :ii-nis :ire udiusl'ubly Conni-mirth usshown in ll), 'for the purpose or' reg nluting` the length oil.E the stroke ol the bud klers. The upper end of euch link is provided with un outwurdly extending pin l, whioh enters und enguges :i heurt-sluiprd cuni-wey or lgroove C upon the inner iluoe of u` cuni-disk (Y, liest on the shuift S. As shown in Fig. l() u portion of this cuni-wary is concentric with the :iris of the shu'lit S, as ut e, the arrangement beinlr surh that the cuni is opcrutive on its pin ilor uboot one third olf the revolution olt the slnilfl.

lly this orgunimtiol'i und :irrnngonicnt ol ports, thobucklors travel buck :ind `forth over the stock of sheets on the table. rl`he rolutions oil.I the ports, when the bucklershutt- :it the liorwurd end of its stroke, :1re shown in lfli'xo". 5j, und the positions oi the purl s, when the shiift :it the opposite ond of its stroke, nre shown in Fig. l0. lVhen the buokler-shnft is inthe position shown in Fig. 5, the pods :it the ends of the lingers are raised, by reason of the eo-:tetion of the rockerhrnis with the cuni-extensions olf the gnire's. ils the mini-wheels C revolve, the shaft l is retrieted, und when the rockerarins engzikrjethe horizontal portions of the guides, the pads of the bucklers are held in engagement with the top sheet of the stock, as shown by' dotted lines in Fig. 28, by u light pressure due to the springs If.V As the shaft travels rearwardly .in its guides,

sosiego 'of the retaining-bar and the fall of the blade,

as hereinafter'fully described, pushes the front edge of the paper upon the blade l).

and thence into the bite of the feialing-otf mechanism, as shown in dotted lines in Fie. 28.

he feeding-ofi' mechanism comprises a shaft F which is revolubly mounted in journal-boxes carried iii yokes`i1i-tlie front ends of cani-levers or arms F', which' are7 pivoted to the standards on the' frame below the guides l5. The rear end of each arm carries a lateral lng, preferably provided with an anti-friction roller f, which engages the periphery of one of the cani-wheels C', by which .the shaft F isnoriiially maintained in'i'aised position to separate the co-aetiiig inenihers F2 and F ofthe feeding-oft' mechanism, as shown in Fig. 5. `The cani-disk ,(l is provided with a peripheral depressionorreduced portion el', whereby the caiii-ariiis F are permitted lo-drop at their front ends during a portion of the revolution of the disks to lower the shaft F, to permit the feeding-off members l2 and Fs to maintain coperative relation, as shown i'n Fig. 11, this operation being timed in the cycle of the machine to occur after the shaft B has moved forward to` bring the tbp sheet to the position of the dotted lines of Fi r. 28, and -.succiaaling the raising of the pads by the cam-ways B4.

The shaft F rot ated by a gear-wheel f. on one end thereof, which is suitably driven by intermediate gear from the shaft S, as shown in Fig. -1, the ariangeinent:` heilig such that the gear f engages with its inter- Iueshiiig gear in any pos'itionof the levers F. 'l`he shaft is provided with a longitudinal key-way, as shown in Fig. ll.y and each feeding-olil disk F'f'"is provided with'a suitable feather to enter the4 saine. Suitable means of any well-known form may preferably be employed to allow thel'disks to be adjustably set4 alongI the length of the shaft` whereby they may operate upon theI iiiatgins or other desired portions of the sheet 'l`he disks F- ai'e adapted to co-act with rollers F'. mounted iii the 'yoke of the trame` these parts constitutingr the feeding oil' mechanism, and the' bite'of the disks and rollers is regulated by a. suitable sel-screw adjust-iiient, as at in Fig. 1S. The rollers F are mounted on ball-bearings in boxes iii the lower inner edge of the yoke Y, with their pei'ipheries iii-operative relation with the faceplate y? thereof. vOne of the bear ing-boxes is mounted on a screw-rod f, haviiug a threaded engagement with a bracket f4 on the yoke and held in adjustment by a binding-nut fr', all as shown in Fig. 13.

A paoer-blade l) is pivotiedto the faceplate of the yoke on the frame, and is eut e away along at its fron't'edge as at (l, to pro vide openings to expose the peripberies of the rollers F'". The blade rests at its ends upon the front; ends of cain-levers or caniariiis D, which are pivoted to the inner faces of the standards on the frame, and are acted upon at their o )postte ends to hold. the blade normally raised from the stack of sheets, as shown in Fig. 5, by suitable cani-.disks D2 mounted on the mani shaft S. These disks have uniform peripheries for the greater portion of their diameters, to engage'tl'ie lat eral anti-friction 'rollers cl on the inner ends of the arms, and each is )rovided with a peripheral cut-away or attened or reduced portion (l2, which permits the inner endof the associated cani-arm D to rise, and allow the blade l) to be drawn by its Weight d down upon the paper. This action is timed to occur when the top sheet has been buckled or arched by the rearward movement of the buckler-s. 'llie tlat portions (I2 are of sutlicient extent Ato allow the blalde to remain in its down position until the top sheet' has passed slightly upon the blade by the forward movement of the bucklers, a-t which time the blade is raised by the action of the disks D"and allows the continued forward movement of the bucklers, whi. moving the v top sheet, to straighten any lower sheets that may have been n'iisplaced. I

A retaining-bar It, which is adapted to bear upon the top surface of the stack or pile, during ay portion of the operation of the ,niachine, is attached to the rear eii.ls of suitable cain-levers lt'. which are preferably of the :toiiiishown 1n Figs. ft and 17, and are -pivoted to the frafiiie below the standards and in frontof the iiiain-shaft. ltlach of the levers is provided with an` anti-friction roller i', on its rear upper corner, which'is acted upon by acamsdisk ll. mounted on the niain-shaft is. as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and i7. 'lhe disks lll are provided with euta\va v or reduced portions i". which do not .operate upon therollers i'. thereby permitting the leversoiaruis ll to l'all during a portion of their revolutions lo allow the bai' il to eiigagethc stack. 'l`he action of the rains ltL upon the levers ll is such and is so timed in lthe operation ot the machine that A the retaining-bar is held up until the t-opsheet is withdrawn from beneath it. and the har is then loivered at the time the bucklers begin their backward movement.

Suitable mechanism is provided for aut-omatically vadjusting the paper-table T to the retaining-bar R.

desired level to maintain the top-sheet within 'the field of operation of the bucklers. This is preferably accomplished by project- U ingone of the cam-levers R forwardly beyond its pivot in the shape of an 'arm or tailpiece i2 by which suitable table-raising devices are operated. The table T is prefer-l ably supported by means of suitable brackets t, which have a suitably tapped body t and a depending side '2, which is provided with guide-rollers t3, as clearly shown in Figs. 14 to 16. The 'guide-rollers t3 are adapted to enter and traverse vertical guidegiooves or ways t4 in the rear uprights of the frame, and the brackets are raised and lowered by means of suitable threaded connections with screw-shafts T', which are held in suitable bearings at the upper end of i the frame and are supported at their lower' ends by suitable balhbearings in a bearing or step-box T2. Each step-box is provided with a suitable circular groove t to receive the balls of its associated bearing, and is suitably bolted or attached to the frame of the machine to support the screw-shafts` T and provide end-thrust bearings therefor. Each of the boxes is provided on its inner side with a bearing t7, for a through-shaft T, which is provided ncarits ends with bevel-wheels t8 meshing with similar wheels t upon the ends of the shafts T', whereby when the shaft T3 `is rotated the screw-shafts T are operated to raise or lower the table;

The'shaft T3 is rotated to raise the table by any suitable means, and preferably by connections from the cain-levers R of the For this purpose one end of the shaft T3 is provided with a ratchet- .wheel tw, adapted to be intermittently rotated by means of a. pawl r3, mounted on the vertical arm of a suitable angle-lever R, which is pivoted upon the frame of the niachine, and has its horizontal arm r4 provided with a screw-rod fr, which passes .through a suitable opening in the arm r2 and is provided with screw-nuts r and r7- above and below the arm r2, respectively, and adapted to be yadjusted along the screw-rod for the purpose of regulating the movement or throw of the pawl.

l/Vhen the retaining-bar drops upon the lstack of paper, the tail-piece r2 engages the ated, as by a chain'or belt 12 ruiming` over suitable pulleys ifi and 14, and transmitting chain 2515 engaging a pulley t1 thereon.

From a consideration of the above disclosure it is apparent that the preliminary separation of the top-sheet or the buckling or arehing'thereof occurs during the rearward movement of the bueklers, at. which time the retaining-bar R is held firmly upon the top of the stack of sheets by means of the weight thereof, the reduced portions of the cani-disks R permitting the cain-arins R to drop forward, and at the same time the paper-blade D is raised by means of the cam-arms D being held depressed at their rear-eiids by the cani-disks D. Then the bucklers have drawn the front-edge of the sheet from beneath the blade, the latter is lowered, and at the tinish of the forward movement of the biicklers, the retaining-bar is aised, so that the rear end of the top-sheet may pass from beneath the retaining-bar and its front end may pass over the paper blade D. These operations take place during the movements of the-bucklers, and after the bucklers are raised from Contact with the top-sheet by their cam-grooves B, the feeding-off mechanism engages the top-slieet, the cams c2 being located to permit the shaft F to drop at this time. ylt is apparent that the length of feed by the feeding-olf mechanism may be adjusted by varying the length of these cams.

A suitable air-blast device E is arranged at the front of the machine, and the supplypipe c thereof, leading from the reservoir c to the distributing` coupling c2, is controlled and closed by means of a link 0', operated by intermediate connections from one of the cam-disks C. The link c* is connected at one end to a roclnzr-arm e which is mounted on the lower end of a suitable rock-shaft e,

frame, and having at .its upper end a rockerarm (1T, provided with a pin 8 adapted to be engaged by the forked end of an operating lever e mounted upon the frame. The lever c" has au anti-friction roller c1" at its rear end, which is held in the path of a face-cam c on one of the disks C', by a suitable spring-conneetion 42. The valve e is nornially held closed by means of the spring e acting through the intermediate connecting means, and is opened when the cam c strikes the roller cw. The cam o is arranged to open the valve for any desired length of time, whereupon it is again closed by the ietraction of the spring e, and the relation of these parts to the other organizzitions of the machine is such that the valve is openedr after the bueklers have risen from engage` nient with the top-sheet and after the feedl ingo mechanism has engaged 'the 'topmotion to the shaft T3 by a second belt or by a quick-acting valve (73, which is opened,

supported in bearings upon one side of thel ings 1/, located beneath thel face-plate and blade, and to which the tubes lead. The ports are controlled by suitable `valves y", adapted to be held in adjustment with relation thereto by any suitable means, such as the screw-nuts y0. ,lhis matter is illustrated in Figs. la, 19, 20, 26 and 27.

A suitable guide `(lr is held on one edge of the table on one side of the-pile or stack ot'- paper, as clearly shown in Fig. 25, for the purpose ot evening up the sheets of the stack. The guide is adjustalily 4held by any suitable .means such as the ihlnnbunit y.

An auxiliary of sub-buckler may bc provided, for the puf pose of buckling or arching the stack or pile 'ot sheets to the rear of the bucklers, and operates to increase the tend.- ency of the shcctsto arch under the opera-- tion of the buckloriingcrs above described. Some arrangement providing a sub-buckler is particularly desirable Vin cases of heavy stock, such as cardboard. y I have shown two forms of snb-bucklers, the first being illustrated in Figs. 21,' 22 and .23, and the second being shown in l `ig. 24, each operating in substantially the same manner. The preferred form is illustrated in Fig. 2l, and in this cxompl'iicatiou of 'this feature of my invention I provide a pair of plates H, which are'pivotcd to each vother and one ot' which pivotcd at its front edge to the top ofthe paper-table. The free edge of the rear plate is rigidlymounted upon a suitable link lt, which passes through the center 'of the table and is pivoted in the front end of a block h', in` which a suitable screwrod h2 is rotatably, mounted, the outer end of the rod being provided with a handle ha and engaging a suitably tapped collar It", whichj is pivotally mounted in bracket-arms 11,5. The

buckler H is adjusted to arch or buckle the paper by screwmg the rod through its bear1ngblock h4..

The sub-buckler shown in Fig. 24 consists of a suitable transverse bar H, which is pivoted upon parallel swinging links la, attached at their lower ends to sintable lugs on the table and passing through slots in the table. The buckler is operated by means` of a suitable thumb-nut h" engaging a screwthreaded rod la which is attached to one end of the bar'H.

The clutch s2 may be .operated to stop the machine'by any suitable mechanism. I'have shown a device for automatically effecting this result, consisting of the movable section 'l3 of thepaper-table, which is mounted on parallel links T4 and ispressed forward by a spring T5. 'When the supplyof sheets is exlink s4 to operate other Arock-arms on the shaft slidable in the I nation with a paper-table,

lhausted, `the bucklers will draw the section rearwardlyy and cause an angle-lever (not shown) connecting to the clutch-lever s by the lever to throw the clutch. This feature formsno part of the present invention, but is covered in a companion application, Serial No. 7487 8, of even date herewith.

The organization for arching or buckling the paper provides a simple and efficient means for attacking the sheet-s at or near their front edges, 'instead of at their rear as is usual, whereby feed of thesheets to the parts is more effective. The strength of the action ofthe pads may be adjusted by the set-screws thereof, and also the length of their throw to increase or diminish the bnc-- kling or arching of the paper may be regulated. The form of bucklers may be varied, the essential. feature of my invention in this respect being the reciprocating and rocking shaft or rod having bucklers to attack the front edge ot' the stack and buckle the paper in the back stroke from beneath the blade and move it upon the blade at the forward stroke.

The blade D holds the stack inl position, and is yraised to permit the withdrawal of the top-sheet and ,the smoothing out of any displaced under sheets, by the action of the bucklers.

The retaiuii-ig-bar holds the paper in position while the sheets are being buckled, and also measures the level of the paper on the table to keep the top-sheet-at the proper height for the bucklers by its control of the table-raising mechanism.

i Claims:

1.. ln a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a papcr-table, of areeiprocating buckler-shat't, guides for the shaft having integral horizontal and inclined portions,

horizontal portions and adapted to enter the inclined portions, and bucklers on the shaft.

2.- In a sheet-feeding machine, the combiofa reciprocating buckler-shaft, guides therefor having horizontal body-portions and upwardly inclined frontend-portions, front rockar1ns in the shaft having lateral projections slidable in the said body portions and adapted toenter the endp0rtions and bucklers on the shaft. j In a sheet-tzeeding machine, the combination with a pa er-table, of a buckler-shaft, guides therefor iaving horizontal body-portions and upwardly inclined 'portions at their front ends', rock-arms onr the shaft having lateral projections to co-act with the inclincs of the uides, rearwardly extending.; arms on the siaft, cam-linksconnected to the arms, and cams to operate the links.

4. In avsheet-feedin machine, the combination with a paper-ta le, of a bucklershaft, horizontal guldes therefor havingV front inf Shaft having bevel-gear connections with -the screw-rods, of a retaining-bar, plvoted 4 which the bar is mounted, and disks on the bar is mounted, disks .on the shaft operating means to buckle the top-sheet, of a pivoted retaining-bar adapted to bear on the stack of sheets during thepreliminary separation of the top sheet, camlevers in the ends of shaft to positively raise the bar and having reduced portions to permitthe bar to drop to engagement with the stackI of sheets.

19. AIn a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a paper-table, a main-shaft, and means driven from the 'shaft to buckle the top-sheet,of a pivotcd retaining-bar adapted to bear on the stack of sheets during the preliminary separation of the'top sheet, levers in which mid bar is mounted to fall by gravity, and cam-disks on the shaft to operate said levers to positively raise the bar.

20. In a sheet-feeding'machine, the combination with a paper-table, a main-shaft,- and means operated by theshaft to buckle the top-sheet, of a pivoted-retaining-bar in rear of the bucklingmeans and adapted to bear on the stack of sheets during the buckling of the top-sheet, levers in which said to positively raise said levers and having reduced portions to permit 4the levers to drop.' i

21.. In a-sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a paper-table, screw-rods having threaded connection therewith, and a cam-levers to raise the bar, a tail-piece on one of said levers, a ratchet-wheel on the shaft, a pawl to move the ratchet, and' an angle-lever connected to the pawl at one end and to the tail-piece at the other.

22. 1n a sheet-feeding machine, the'com bination with a paper-table, screw-rods having threaded connection therewith, and a shaft, bevel-gears between the shaft and rods, Vand a ratchet-wheel on the shaft, of a' retaining-bar, pivoted cam-levers to raise the bar, a tail-piece on one of the levers, a

screw-boltpassing through tail-piece and having upper and lower nuts adjustable thereon, a pawl to move the ratchet in one direction, and an angle-lever between the pawl and screw-bolt to transmit motion from the latter to the former. 723. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a paper-table, of a buckl'ershaft, means to reciprocate the shaft, means to rock the same, and bucklers on the shaft with a paper-tab1e, a feeding-offl device comprising rollers, and disks mounted in swinging cam-arms, andy camdisks to operate' the arms, one of the disks having a face-ca of an air-blast device, aqvalve therefor, and al valve-,operating lever in thepath of the facecam.

24. In a sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a pa er-table, a feeding-off device comprising Xed rollers and disks mountedv on pivoted arms, and cam-disks having reduced peripheral portions to permit the disks to drop, one of the disks having a face-cam in rear of its reduced portion, of an airblast, a valve therefor, avalve-operating leverin the path of the face-cam, and a spring to retract the lever. 25.v In a. sheet-feeding machine, the combination with a paper-table, of asub-buckler con'iprising a vertically movable plate, and means to adjust the plate above the plane of the table.

26. In a sheet-fceding machine, the comibination with a paper-table, of a sub-buckler con'lprising pivotcd plates secured at one edge to the table, 'a screw-rod below the table and movable longitudinally thereof, and a link secured to the rod and passing through the table to rigidly lengage one of the plates.

` In testimony whereof I aiiix my in presence of two witnesses.

HOMER c. LA BATT.

signature itnesses R. K. GUs'rArsoN, J OSIAH McRoBnRrs. 

